The man was detained in Ramshill Road, Scarborough, at about 2.30am on Sunday night after reportedly assaulting a woman with the weapon and threatening the public.

A police dog team were called to help deal with the incident. The man was arrested and bailed, and the sword confiscated.

Elsewhere, police said Saturday evening had passed off without major incident, although there were several reported fights in bars, at York Station and on trains heading out of the city.

Patrols had been stepped up due to the combination of large crowds in the city for York Races and some pubs staying open later than usual, to show England's World Cup match against Italy, but police said the Scarborough incident was the only football-related arrest they made in York or North Yorkshire.

Armed officers and dogs helped British Transport Police at York Station at around 8.30pm, where there were reports of a large group fighting, but police said the groups were chanting not fighting, and were all put on trains out of the area.

North Yorkshire Police officers also helped British Transport Police at Church Fenton, when a fight reportedly broke out on a train leaving York.

In the city, officers were sent to The Parish bar on Micklegate, where another fight had broken out. One man was arrested and two more were given dispersal orders and told to leave the city centre.

Deployment manager Paul Richardson from North Yorkshire Police's Force Control Room said: "We were well-resourced across the county. People who were out to enjoy themselves did so but it seems those who were intent on causing trouble saw the police presence and decided not to."